KOTA KINABALU: Three years after it was announced, Malaysia’s highest fire station will become a reality when it opens on Mount Kinabalu on Feb 21.
Preparations for the Panalaban Search and Rescue Centre, built 3,323m above sea level, have been intense and tedious.
Ranau Fire Station chief Ridwan Mohd Taib said some of the heavy equipment needed includes oxygen supply systems to support rescuers in a high-altitude environment and stretchers to carry injured climbers.
High-level rescue equipment such as ropes, carabiners, harnesses and pulley systems is also needed, he said, adding that such equipment is usually delivered by helicopter if the quantity is large.
“For small items or additional equipment, they can be carried up by porters or firemen on duty,” he said.
In Ridwan’s view, there are some additional requirements that would better help rescue and operations on the mountain, such as a stable energy supply (for example, solar panels or small generators).
“We need a powerful communication station to connect with the Ranau fire control room or the operations centre below, stocks of medical emergencies such as supplemental oxygen, AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness) medication, and automated external defibrillator (AED) equipment,” Ridwan said.
An AED is a portable device that can be used to treat a person whose heart has suddenly stopped working.
Sabah Parks director Dr Maklarin Lakim, when contacted yesterday confirmed that the Panalaban Search and Rescue Centre “is set to be opened on Feb 21, if all goes well.”
He said the centre will be the main base for mountain search and rescue (Mosar) initiatives on Mount Kinabalu.
The Mosar team was established following the deadly earthquake on Mount Kinabalu on June 5, 2015, which claimed 18 lives.
“Since its inception, the Mosar team has proven to be an amazing unit that assists search and rescue operations tremendously, with almost 100 rescues recorded from then up to 2024,” Maklarin said.
